Desmond Tutu's daughter: 'Incredibly sad' to leave priesthood

Archbishop Desmond Tutu's daughter has said she is "incredibly sad" to leave the preisthood after her same-sex marriage to Marceline van Furth.

Mpho Tutu's civil wedding took place in the Netherlands in December and was celebrated in South Africa last month. In an interview with BBC on Thursday she said falling in love with a woman had been as much a surprise for her as anyone else.

Mpho Tutu's wedding celebration in South Africa is surrounded in controversy after an Anglican priest allegedly blessed the ceremony. Alex Baker Photography

"I know my marriage sounds like a coming out party but quite frankly I am guessing that I fall more as bisexual on the spectrum than lesbian.

"Falling in love with Marceline was probably as much a surprise to me as anyone else."

Tutu's father, Desmond, has been a long time advocate for women priests and LGBT rights. "I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that his how deeply I feel about this," he told the launch of the Free and Equal campaign in Cape Town in 2013.

Mpho said part of her had been "stripped away" by the removal of her license.

"A few years ago I celebrated the Eucharist with my father and so to now be in a position where I can't serve at the altar with him – I was surprised by how much it hurt," she told the BBC.

She said her father was "saddened" by her removal as well.

Although South Africa has legalised same-sex marriage, the Anglican church prohibits clergy from officiating at gay weddings or entering into gay marriage themselves. Mpho said she knew she would have to give up her license after her wedding but said she wanted to "always choose love".

"Everything else will fall into place. When in doubt do the most loving thing."

She added she did not think the Anglican Communion would hold on to its teaching that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

"What is so absolute that we can't pass beyond this point?" she said. "The reality is that not only do we have gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people of every description sitting in our pews, to be perfectly honest we have all of those people standing in our pulpits as well.

"Yet very often they sit in fear in the pews and they stand in fear in the pulpits because they are not free to fully own who they are and who they love."

related articles
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and wife Leah renew wedding vows, celebrate 60th anniversary
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and wife Leah renew wedding vows, celebrate 60th anniversary

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and wife Leah renew wedding vows, celebrate 60th anniversary

Why the Church of Scotland\'s same-sex marriage fudge won\'t work
Why the Church of Scotland's same-sex marriage fudge won't work

Why the Church of Scotland's same-sex marriage fudge won't work

Desmond Tutu\'s daughter gives up Church ministry after same-sex marriage
Desmond Tutu's daughter gives up Church ministry after same-sex marriage

Desmond Tutu's daughter gives up Church ministry after same-sex marriage

Nigeria diocese severs link with Liverpool over same-sex blessings bishop
Nigeria diocese severs link with Liverpool over same-sex blessings bishop

Nigeria diocese severs link with Liverpool over same-sex blessings bishop

News
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches

Every Christmas, people sing the song “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”. Unlike many other songs and carols that include elements of non-biblical tradition and myth, this song is pure Scripture. It was the first Christmas song authorised to be sung in the Church of England. This is the story …

The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914
The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914

On Christmas Eve in 1914, many men were in the trenches fighting the war, but the spirit of Christmas halted the conflict for a brief period. This is the story …

Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land
Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land

Jerusalem Church leaders have released a report detailing the struggles and challenges currently faced be Christians living in the Holy Land.

Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?
Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?

For you who have been followers of Jesus Christ for a long time, maybe the pain and suffering of this world and the darkness you have had to live through this past year has gotten you down to the point of complete and utter discouragement. But all is not lost.